Once again in 2019, the people of The Church of the Good Shepherd gave of our time, talents and treasures in order to serve as the Hands of Christ to a world in need.

Parishioners gave $21,900 in special collections for ministries from Harvest Hope Food Bank to Hannah House, from Sistercare to the victims of natural disasters. That’s on top of the $13,860 in outreach efforts in our budget.

• In January, the youth of the parish cooked chili and sold it for the Souper Bowl of Caring, raising $700 for Harvest Hope Food Bank.

• In January, we sent $1,000 to Providence Presbyterian Church for the Bethany’s Gift Outreach Ministry, named in memory of our own Bethany Martin.
• In February, members of Saint Bridget’s Guild prepared a luncheon to welcome the ladies of Hannah House. back after renovations.
• In March, the Vestry prepared a pre-Lenten Pancake Brunch that raised $320 for Harvest Hope Food Bank.
• In March, we donated $800 for worldwide ministries through the Episcopal Church Women’s spring United Thank Offering.
• In April, volunteers donated and fried fish for our Lenten fish fry, which generated $550 to help with the costs of our annual mission work trip to Valle Crucis. Parishioners gave another $500 in designated offerings through the year to support the work trip.

• In April, we donated $650 for Camp Air scholarships at Camp Gravatt.
• In May, members of Saint Bridget’s Guild purchased Mother’s Day gifts for the ladies of Hannah House.
• Throughout Lent, we collected our coins and filled our Mite Boxes with $625 for the Free Medical Clinic.
• In May, our garage sale raised $1,200 for Hannah House.
• From Mother’s Day through Father’s Day, we filled baby bottles with our pocket change, generating $900 for Birthright of Columbia.

• In June, four adults and one youth donated a week of their time to help repair homes and hearts for the needy during our mission work trip to Appalachia. They also helped pay for the cost of their stay at Valle Crucis, some kicking in the full $425.
• In June a handful of parishioners began our newest outreach ministry, preparing and serving dinner for the homeless through Streetside Ministry, at the Church of the Apostles.
• In July, we donated $1,000 to the Diocese of the Rio Grande to help provide diapers, soap, toothbrushes, food and clothes to the asylum seekers and refugee children being detained by the federal government.
• In August, we contributed school supplies for the children at Hannah House.
• In the summer, we donated our plates, glasses and other kitchenware to Hannah House to resupply their kitchen after the supplies disappeared during renovations.
• In September, we donated $1,600 to Episcopal Relief and Development for the victims of Hurricane Dorian..

• In October, more than a dozen parishioners prepared and fed dinner to the homeless through Streetside Ministry. They returned in November to prepare and serve dinner again after another church wasn’t able to make it. Throughout the year, parishioners chipped in more than $400 to help volunteers cover the cost of the meals.
• In November, we donated $600 for worldwide ministries through the Episcopal Church Women’s fall United Thank Offering.
• In November, volunteers baked all sorts of goodies for the Episcopal Church Women’sHoliday Bake Sale, which raised $750 for Sistercare.
• In December, members of St. Bridget’s Guild bought Christmas presents for the children, mothers and single women at Hannah House.
• Through a series of special offerings, we collected $5,000 to pay for our 2020 Lenten Day of Service, when we will work with Harvest Pack Ministry to pack 25,000 meals to ship to the Philippines.
• Throughout the year, individuals gave a total of $1,450 in designated offerings for theSalvation Army and $1,905 for Harvest Hope Food Bank, $1,000 to Leeza’s Connection, $500 to the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund, $1,750 to Oliver Gospel Mission.

• Every Sunday, we brought in aluminum cans, which were sold ($95) to benefit Heifer Project.
• Every month, members of St. Bridget’s Guild donated aluminum foil, trash bags, cleaning supplies and laundry detergent to Hannah House. They also facilitated donations of clothing and shoes from other parishioners.
• Every Sunday, we collected cans and cartons and jars of food for Harvest Hope Food Bank.
• Through our operating budget, we donated $1,000 to Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, a total of $2,360 to people who came to us in need of help and $10,500 to 12 local charities: The Cooperative Ministry, Providence Home, Harvest Hope Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, the Free Medical Clinic, Palmetto Place, Sistercare, Oliver Gospel Mission, the Salvation Army, Home Works, Hannah House and Shepherd’s Center.